The DA questioned ANC president Jacob Zuma's statement on Thursday that Afrikaners are the only true South Africans among whites in the country.

"In singling out white Afrikaners as the only true white South Africans, Jacob Zuma has revealed an ethnically and racially blinkered world view in conflict with our Constitution," said Democratic Alliance MP Desiree van der Walt.

"The preamble to our Constitution says that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity. It does not say that some people have more of a right to call themselves South African than others," Van der Walt said.

The Congress of the People also criticised Zuma for giving short thrift to the Constitution.

"In South African we are all equal. Someone must give him a copy of the Constitution," said spokesperson Sipho Ngwema.

"Typical, the president of the ANC is a chameleon. His tune swings with his audience — when in KwaZulu-Natal, he's bashes gays and lesbians. He adopts the same approach when he visits the Jewish and Muslim community," said Ngwema.

"The Afrikaners community can see through patronising attitude," he added.

Earlier, Zuma said: "Of all the white groups that are in South Africa, it is only the Afrikaners that are truly South Africans in the true sense of the word."

He was addressing representatives of various Afrikaner agricultural, women's and cultural organisations in Johannesburg.